His sister heard him, and asked Comethup who it was. The boy, who had glanced out of the window, told her. She began to laugh again, but straightened her face as her brother entered the room.
That brother, who had been admitted by the little servant, advanced toward Comethup as though to speak to him; saw the great figure in the chair, rocking itself over the head of its stick, and started back in astonishment. "My dear sister," he exclaimed, "I never expected to find you here. I do assure you I----"
"My dear Charlotte, I have been hunting everywhere for you."
"Well, I know that," she returned. "And you've just met Captain What's-his-name, and he told you where I was. Why the devil can't you tell the truth for once, Bob?"
"My dear sister, I do assure you----" he began; but she fiercely interrupted him.
"There, save your breath. What do you want with me?"
"Don't talk like a fool; I'm not a girl, nor a child--as you've found before to-day. When the Lord sent me into the world without eyes, the devil gave me some of his wits, to redress his Master's unfairness; you've found that out before to-day, Bob. Let us understand each other. I simply wrote and told you I was coming down here, because if you'd met me unexpectedly in the street it might have been too much for your nerves. But I don't think we have anything to say to each other; I don't like you, and you don't like me; we fought like Kilkenny cats when we were youngsters, and you generally got the worst of it, although I couldn't see where I was hitting. Now we have to behave like decent members of society, and we can't pummel each other, but I generally manage to get the best of it still. What do you want?"
Mr. Robert Carlaw cleared his throat and settled his neckcloth, and hesitated for a moment before speaking. At last he began: "My dear sister, I had hoped that some--some of the unpleasantness which embittered--yes, I repeat, embittered--my visit to London might have been swept away at this later interview. Of course, I admit that the fault was mine--it must have been--but----"
"Don't worry yourself; it _was_ your fault. But we don't come any nearer to what you want."
Mr. Carlaw sighed, and stretched out his hand toward his sister; showed his teeth in a fierce grin, and shook a fist at her. "I have endeavoured to explain. My object in desiring to meet you is a pure and a simple one--I may say a brotherly one."